Blank Rome is thrilled to be represented at The Lodging Conference by sending a five-person team, including partners and Hospitality practice co-chairs Jim Butler and David A. Sudeck, along with partners Mark S. Adams, Justin G. Mapes, and Jeffrey T. Myers. Mark and David will also serve as panelists, sharing insights on private equity and hospitality lending, respectively. The Lodging Conference will be held October 5 through 8, 2026, in Phoenix, Arizona.

Blank Rome is a proud sponsor of the Conference and the team is looking forward to meeting with old friends and new, and building and deepening relationships during the conference. Attending? Be sure to say hello!

About the Program

The Lodging Conference is a hotel industry development conference for real estate, finance, construction, and franchising. The event brings together hotel industry owners, operators, presidents, CEOs, investors, and dealmakers to strategize about development, management, design, and operations.

Blank Rome also looks forward to hosting our Annual Hospitality Leader Lunch, an invitation-only gathering held in conjunction with the conference.

About Mark’s and David’s Sessions

Private Equity Investments and Trends
Tuesday, October 6  |  3:45–4:30 p.m.

The panel will share their insights on core strategies to identify opportunities, structure, and manage hotel investments, drive value, and generate significant returns.

Panelists:

  • Moderator: Daniel H. Lesser, Co-Founder, President & CEO, LW Hospitality Advisors
  • Mark S. Adams, Partner, Business Litigation, Blank Rome LLP
  • Glenn Alba, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, TMGOC Ventures
  • Benjamin T. Leahy, Partner, Cedar Capital Partners
  • Matt Livian, Managing Director, Prospect Ridge
  • Carlos J. Rodriguez, Jr., Co-Founder & CEO, Driftwood Capital LLC

Secure Your Construction, PIP, or Renovation Loan
Wednesday, October 7  |  11:45 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Cover the costs of constructing a new hotel or renovating an existing hospitality asset. The panel will discuss current repayment terms, costs, interest rates, and loan negotiation.

Panelists:

  • Moderator: Mark J. Gerstein, Senior Advisor, McKinsey & Company
  • Mike Canning, Senior Vice President, Capital Markets, HALL Structured Finance
  • Steve Getty, Managing Director, MUFG Bank, Ltd.
  • Brian Holstein, Principal, US Hotel Advisors
  • Jared Schlosser, Head of Originations and CPACE, Peachtree Group
  • David A. Sudeck, Partner, Real Estate, and Co-Chair, Hospitality Practice, Blank Rome LLP

For more information and to register, please visit the event webpage.

Other sessions include:

  • The Dealmakers: Development
  • The Deal Makers: Owners, Investors, Operators Discuss Challenges and Opportunities
  • Behind the Deal: CFO Strategies
  • Speed Stats
  • Economic Outlook
  • Executive Briefing
  • Deals and Growth: Owners Preview 2027
  • Conversion-Friendly: Evaluate Your Brand, Concept and Positioning
  • Financing for Acquisitions, Refinancing and Loan Modifications
  • Leverage the Latest Data to Prioritize Your 2027 Growth Strategies
  • The AI End User: Owner, Operator and Brand Insights on Driving Profit
  • Unconventional Hospitality: Glamping, Cabins, and Nature-Based Stays
  • High-Risk, High-Reward: Sourcing Opportunistic Investments
  • New Construction: Building in Today’s Environment
  • Trends Shaping Today’s Hospitality Landscape
  • Commercial-to-Hotel Adaptive Reuse: Transforming Assets into Thriving Hotels
  • Hotel Development: What to Expect in 2027
  • Design to Drive ROI, Customer Engagement and Market Share
  • The Owner, Brand, and Operator Relationship
  • Syndicating Hotel Real Estate Deals
  • Soft Brands and Independent Hotels
  • Strengthening the Owner’s Business Model
  • Transaction Update: Buying and Selling Hotel Real Estate
  • AI Tools Transforming Performance, Profitability and Guest Experience
  • On Time and On Budget: Managing Hotel Renovations
  • Capitalize on Opportunities: Branded Residences and Mixed-Use
  • A Focus on Extended Stay: Development, Investment and Legal Perspectives for Expanding Your Portfolio
  • Financial Engineering: Cost Savings thru Taxes, Insurance and Risk Analysis
  • Elevate Your F&B Operations
  • The Luxury Hospitality Landscape
  • Proactive CapEx Strategies